Stone Love Movement, commonly referred to as simply Stone Love, is one of the major

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

sound systems Sound system may refer to: Technology media * Sound reinforcement system, a system for amplifying audio for an audience * High fidelity, a sound system intended for accurate reproduction of music in the home * Public address system, an institution ...

History

Based in

Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long spit (landform), sand spit which connects the town of Por ...

, Winston "Wee Pow" Powell built the Stone Love sound system in 1972, using locally-built amplifiers.Morgan, Simone (2012)
The Movement continues
, ''

Jamaica Observer The ''Jamaica Observer'' is a daily newspaper published in Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by ...

'', 9 November 2012, retrieved 10 November 2012Stone Love
, ''

Vibe Vibe, alternatively '' vibes,'' is short for ''vibration''. A "vibe" is an emotional reaction to the aura or energy felt to belong to a person, place or thing. Vibe may also refer to: People * DJ Vibe (born 1968), Portuguese DJ * Lasse Vibe (b ...

'', April 1998, pp. 106-113 These were soon upgraded, and the equipment has been kept up to date over Stone Love's four decade history, with long-time engineer Winston Samuels in charge of technical aspects of the sound system.Cooke, Mel (2010)
Winston Samuels - The Man Behind Stone Love's 'Clean' Sound
, ''

Jamaica Gleaner ''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper in the Western Hemisphere. Original ...

'', 24 December 2010, retrieved 10 November 2012 It became Jamaica's most popular sound system, known for its superior sound quality, and maintained this position into the 21st century.Cooke, Mel (2008)
Sound quality separates Stone Love from the pack
, ''Jamaica Star'', 15 December 2008, retrieved 10 November 2012Seed, Michael et al (2003) ''Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World: Volume 2 - Production and Performance'', Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd., , p. 264 It has also played overseas in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Stone Love is renowned for its exclusive

dubplate A dubplate is an acetate disc usually of 10 inches diameter, traditionally used by studios to test recordings prior to mastering for the subsequent pressing of a vinyl record, but pioneered by reggae sound systems as a way to play exclusive mu ...

s, which have included sides by many of the artists which it helped to establish, including

Buju Banton Mark Anthony Myrie (born 15 July 1973),Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, known professionally as Buju Banton, is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae singer. He is one of the most significant and well-re ...

and

Wayne Wonder Von Wayne Charles (born 26 July 1972), better known by his stage name Wayne Wonder, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist. His most popular single is the 2003 hit " No Letting Go". Biography Early life Wonder was born in Buff Bay, Portla ...

, and

Johnny Osbourne Johnny Osbourne (born Errol Osbourne, 1948) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer, who rose to success in the late 1970s and mid-1980s. His album '' Truths and Rights'' was a roots reggae success, and featured "Jah Promise" and the album's t ...

and

Shabba Ranks Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon OD (born 17 January 1966), better known by his stage name Shabba Ranks, is a Jamaican dancehall musician. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was one of the most popular Jamaican musicians in the world. Throu ...

, Sanchez, and

Beenie Man Moses Anthony Davis OD (born 22 August 1973), professionally known as Beenie Man, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay. His awards include DJ of the Year Award eight years in a row. His twelfth studio album '' Art and Life'' received a Grammy Award ...

.Stone Love, The Special anniversary
, ''Jamaica Star'', 2 November 2012, retrieved 10 November 2012 In the 1990s, rivalry with the

Killamanjaro Founded in the summer of 1969, Killamanjaro is a Jamaican sound system best known for their clashes and large amount of classic reggae dubplates. It is owned by Noel "Papa Jaro" Harper and named after Mount Kilimanjaro. The name was changed ...

sound system led to a series of '

sound clash A sound clash is a musical competition where crew members from opposing sound systems pit their skills against each other. Sound clashes take place in a variety of venues, both indoors and outdoors, and primarily feature reggae and dancehall music. ...

es' being staged.Stanley Niaah, Sonia (2010) ''DanceHall: From Slave Ship to Ghetto'', University of Ottawa Press, , p. 103 In 2003 Powell started a second sound system, Purple Love, which concentrates on vintage Jamaican music.Henry, Krista (2006)
Purple Love goes back to Stone Love's roots
, ''

'', 8 December 2006, retrieved 10 November 2012 A live album featuring a recording of the sound system performing, ''Stone Love Live'', was released in 2005 on November Records. The sound system hosts the 'Weddy Weddy Wednesday' party every Wednesday at its base in Burlington Avenue, Kingston. Apart from Wee Pow, the selectors have included Rory, Geefus, Billy Slaughter, Diamond, Fire Ras, Ice Burg, Scary Gary, Dwayne Pow The sound system spawned the Stone Love and Father Pow record labels that have released hits by the likes of

Bounty Killer Rodney Basil Price OD (born 12 June 1972), known as Bounty Killer, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. AllMusic describes him as "one of the most aggressive dancehall stars of the '90s, a street-tough rude boy with an unrepentant fl ...

, Jigsy King and

Tony Curtis Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz; June 3, 1925September 29, 2010) was an American actor with a career that spanned six decades, achieving the height of his popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in more than 100 films, in roles co ...

Capleton Clifton George Bailey III (born 13 April 1967),Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 67–69 better known by his stage name Capleton, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall musician. He is also referred to as Kin ...

Tanya Stephens Vivienne Tanya Stephenson (born 2 July 1973),Lim, Ann-Margaret (2004)All Woman: Tanya Stephens", ''Jamaica Observer'', 3 May 2004. Retrieved 31 October 2010

, and Daddy Screw.Kenner, Rob (1995)
Boom Shots
, ''

'', August 1995, p. 124, retrieved 10 November 2012 In August 2014 it was announced that Powell would receive the

Order of Distinction The Order of Distinction (OD) is a national order in the Jamaican honours system. It is the sixth in order of precedence of the Orders of Societies of Honour, which were instituted by an Act of Parliament (''The National Honours and Awards Ac ...

in October that year. On 30 October 2014, the movement appeared at the Red Bull Culture Clash, clashing against

Boy Better Know Boy Better Know, often abbreviated as BBK, is a British grime collective and record label. The collective was founded in North London in 2005 as an independent record label by brothers Jamie and Joseph Adenuga, better known as Jme and Skepta, ...

A$AP Mob ASAP Mob (stylized as A$AP Mob) is an American hip-hop collective formed in 2006 in Harlem, New York City, that consists of rappers (most of whom carry the "ASAP" moniker; except Da$H and Playboi Carti), record producers, music video directors ...

and eventual winners Rebel Sound (

David Rodigan David Michael "Ram Jam" Rodigan MBE OD (born 24 June 1951) is a British radio DJ who also performs as a disc jockey. Known for his selections of reggae and dancehall music, he has played on stations including Radio London, Capital 95.8, K ...

Shy FX Andre Williams, better known as Shy FX, is a British DJ and producer from London. He specialises in drum and bass and jungle music. Biography Shy FX's debut record was "Jungle Love", released in 1992 on the Permission to Dance label. Soon after ...

Chase & Status Chase & Status are an English electronic music duo composed of Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status). In addition, Andy Gangadeen is the drummer when the band performs live. MC Rage formerly performed as MC with the group, but left in ...

and MC Rage). To celebrate Stone Love's 42nd anniversary, the sound system toured the US in a series of performances ending on 27 December 2014 at the Red Stripe Oval in Kingston.Stone Love celebrates 42 years
, ''

History

Discography

Albums

References